Punjab Kings star Shashank Singh has vehemently denied allegations of assaulting a staff member, a day after an FIR was lodged against him in Bhopal. The all-rounder and and his father, Shailesh Singh, a retired Special Director General of Police (DGP), have been accused of allegedly assaulting and verbally abusing their cook Vipendra Singh Tomar. Issuing a clarification on the incident, Shashank has stated that the staff member didn’t know to cook at all and had allegedly taken photos and videos of his home.
Shashank Singh denies assaulting cook
Speaking to news agency ANI, Shashank claimed that the person had arrived claiming to be a cook while he did not know how to cook, and accused the staff member of taking photos and videos of his home, and entering his room as well. Singh said that he suspected that the person had come with the intention of stealing while adding that nothing has been stolen. The PBKS all-rounder categorically stated that his family did not hold Tomar hostage.
“No, we didn’t hold him hostage… It is true that he arrived claiming to be a cook, but he wasn’t a cook at all. He didn’t know how to cook; he was just here to have fun, taking videos and photos, and even going into my room… Since he was doing things like that, I suspect he came with the intention of stealing. We are very fortunate that, from what we’ve checked so far, nothing has been stolen,” Shashank said.
He further said that the person was caught taking photos and videos of the house, following which his sister decided to call the police. Tomar reportedly pleaded with the family not to do so.
Refuting claims of assaulting the person, Shashank Singh claimed that he would never be involved in any physical altrecation and that he even hesitates to use abusive language.
“It is possible that someone might level such allegations against me. I believe that anyone who knows me, knows that physical altercation is completely out of the question for me. I hesitate even to use abusive language, so I certainly couldn’t do something like that. I don’t think I need to offer any justification regarding this,” Singh added.
What the cook said
According to the cook, the cricketer’s family wasn’t pleased with the food Vipendra had prepared and abused him. Following that, the cook decided to quit the job. However, he alleged that his phone was confiscated and he was forced to work despite his refusal.
Fearing for his safety, Vipendra locked himself inside a room. But Shashank, his father Shailesh, and their driver Mishra somehow managed to enter the room and assaulted him, which resulted in injuries to his face and body. The cook alleges his phone wasn’t returned even then.
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